Drilling mud filtration device
A filter system for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system is provided that includes an overhead drilling system, a drill string connected to the overhead drilling system, and a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud, wherein the mud filter is disposed within a drilling mud fluid passageway that extends from the entry point of the drilling mud into the overhead drilling system and the entry point of the drilling mud into the drill string.
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This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/422,150, filed on Oct. 29, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud fluid passageway as defined herein in an oil or gas well drilling system, and more particularly, to a mud filter attached to or received within the drilling fluid passageway as defined herein of an overhead drilling system, a top drive drilling system or a power swivel.
BACKGROUNDA drill string consists of a plurality of threadably connected joints of drill pipe, wherein each drill pipe has a length of approximately thirty feet long. One end of each drill pipe has internal threads (the “box” end of the pipe), and an opposite end of each drill pipe has external threads (the “pin” end of the pipe). A series of three threadingly connected drill pipes is commonly referred to as a “stand” of drill pipe. Each stand has a length of approximately 90 feet. Multiple stands of ready to use drill pipe are typically stored vertically supported by the drill floor and restrained in an assembly commonly referred to as a fingerboard.
A top drive well drilling apparatus typically includes a top drive system (TDS). The TDS includes a tubular main shaft, a lower end of which is threadingly connectable to an upper end of a drill string. The TDS drives the drill string rotatively and moves upwardly and downwardly with the drill string during a drilling operation. The TDS includes a motor to drive the main shaft, and therefore the drill string, during a drilling operation. The TDS includes an assembly for receiving drilling fluid. During the drilling operation, the drilling fluid (commonly referred to as “drilling mud”, or simply “mud”) is pumped through the TDS to the drill string and down to the drill bit to provide lubricity to the drill bit, thereby facilitating the drilling operation. However, during drilling drill bit cuttings, shavings and other abrasive articles (hereinafter referred to as waste products) accumulate in the drilling mud. The waste products can cause extensive wear to the interior surfaces of the drill string and the drill bit and to drilling parameter measuring devices. Consequently it is desirable to filter the drilling mud to remove the accumulated waste products.
In conventional filtration systems a mud filter or screen is inserted into the box end of a stand of drill pipe that is to be attached to the drill string. However, in order to insert the filter an oil well operator (commonly referred to as a “roughneck”) must be lifted the approximately 90 feet to the top of the stand of drill pipe. This is typically accomplished by placing the roughneck in an apparatus called a riding belt. This procedure is very dangerous, and produces an undesirably high risk of serious injury or death to the roughneck.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and device for filtering drilling mud in an oil or gas well drilling system that does not create a risk of injury to the roughneck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a filter system for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system.
In one embodiment, the system includes an overhead drilling system, a drill string connected to the overhead drilling system, and a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud. In such an embodiment the mud filter is preferably disposed within a drilling mud fluid passageway that extends from the entry point of the drilling mud into the overhead drilling system to the entry point of the drilling mud into the drill string.
In another embodiment, the system further includes a saver sub having an upper end that connects to the overhead drilling system and a lower end that connects to a drill string. In this embodiment, the mud filter is received within the saver sub.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system.
In one embodiment, the method includes providing a drill string, providing an overhead drilling system that rotatably drives the drill string, providing a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud, and positioning the mud filter within a drilling mud fluid passageway that extends from the entry point of the drilling mud into the overhead drilling system and the entry point of the drilling mud into the drill string.
In another embodiment, the method further includes providing a saver sub having an inner fluid passageway that forms a portion of the drilling mud fluid passageway, attaching an upper end of the saver sub to the overhead drilling system, attaching a lower end of the saver sub to the drill string, and positioning at least a portion of the mud filter within the inner fluid passageway of the saver sub.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
This invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles (herein after referred to as waste products) from a drilling mud fluid passageway, as defined below, in an oil or gas well drilling system, and more particularly, to a mud filter attached to or received within the drilling fluid passageway, as defined below, of an overhead drilling system, a top drive drilling system or a power swivel.
In the embodiment depicted in
During operation, a TDS motor encased within the motor housing 17 rotates the main shaft 16 which, in turn, rotates the drill string 19 and the drill bit 20. Rotation of the drill bit 20 produces a well bore 21. Drilling fluid (also referred to as drilling mud or mud), pumped from a rotary hose 25 (see
As used herein, the phrase “drilling mud fluid passageway” refers to a passageway through which drilling mud passes during a drilling operation that extends from the entry of the drilling mud into the TDS 23 and ends at the entry of the drilling mud into the box end of the drill string 19 that is attached to the TDS 23. For example, in one embodiment, the drilling mud fluid passageway 8 extends from the connection of the rotary hose 25 and the S-pipe 18, continues through the S-pipe 18, the gooseneck 15, the washpipe 14, the TDS 23, the main shaft 16, and the saver sub 24, and ends at the connection of the saver sub 24 to the drill string 19. However in alternative embodiments of the invention, one or more of the components listed in the above example may be omitted. For example, in one embodiment, the TDS 23 may be connected directly to the drill string 19 without the use of the saver sub 24.
In an embodiment of the current invention in which a saver sub is present on the drilling system, as shown in
For example, if the TDS 23 were connected directly to the drill string 19, and the threads of the TDS 23 were to be damaged, worn out or otherwise failed, the main shaft 16 of the TDS 23 would have to be replaced. By contrast, the saver sub 24 is a sacrificial part that can easily be replaced if its threads wear out, are damaged, or otherwise fail. As a result, the saver sub 24 is connected between the TDS 23 and the drill string 19 to protect the threads in the TDS 23 and increase the useful life of the TDS 23. In one embodiment, the saver sub 24 is constructed from a very hard material, such as a high alloy steel, for example AISI 4340.
As shown in
As shown in
The mud filter 26 is at least partially porous, to allow the drilling mud to pass therethrough, but preventing the waste products from passing therethrough. For example, exemplary porous structures for the mud filter 26 include a metal mesh material, a plurality of welded metal bars, or a generally solid material having a plurality of openings pierced therethrough, among other suitable porous structures.
In the embodiment depicted in
The mud filter 26 according to the present invention may be placed anywhere within the drilling mud fluid passageway 8. For example, in one embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment, the annular ring 38 of the mud filter 26 and the annular recess 40 of the saver sub 24 are sufficiently closely toleranced to prevent the waste products from flowing between the annular ring 38 and the annular recess 40 past the mud filter 26. For example, the annular ring 38 and the annular recess 40 may be toleranced to a range of approximately plus or minus 0.002 inches to approximately plus or minus 0.005 inches to ensure no leakage of the waste products.
Although the mud filter 26 may be received within the saver sub 24 such that the mud filter bottom wall 50 protrudes from the lower end 30 of the saver sub 24, in embodiments where the mud filter bottom wall 50 does not protrude from the lower end 30 of the saver sub 24, the mud filter bottom wall 50 is less likely to be damaged when the saver sub 24 is attached to, detached from, or otherwise transported around the top drive well drilling apparatus 10.
In another embodiment of the invention, the mud filter 26 is received within the washpipe 14, as show for example in
This invention is also directed to a method of filtering drilling mud using the above described apparatus. In this embodiment, during a drilling operation, the drilling mud is pumped through the drilling mud fluid passageway 8. As the drilling mud enters the longitudinal cavity 44 of the mud filter 26, the mud filter 26 allows the mud to pass through the mud filter sidewalls 48 and bottom wall 50, but does not allow the waste products to pass through the mud filter sidewalls 48 and bottom wall 50. As the waste products accumulate or “stack up” inside the longitudinal cavity 44 of the mud filter 26, the pressure of the drill mud increases. When pressure in the drilling mud reaches a level that indicates that the longitudinal cavity 44 of the mud filter 26 is substantially occupied by the waste products, a new mud filter 26 is inserted in the drilling mud fluid passageway, for example, in the washpipe 14, the S-pipe 18, or the saver sub 24. This process of installing and replacing the mud filter 26 can be repeated as needed during the drilling process.
Although a top drive system has been described above, in alternative embodiments any suitable overhead drilling system may be used such as a power swivel. It should be understood that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are illustrative only, and are not to be considered as limitations upon the scope of the present invention. Variations and modifications may be made in accordance with the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the invention is intended to be defined not by the specific features of the preferred embodiments as disclosed, but by the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A filter system for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system comprising:
- an overhead rotary drilling system;
- a drill string connected to the overhead rotary drilling system; and
- a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud, wherein the mud filter is disposed within a drilling mud fluid passageway that extends within the overhead drilling system.
2. The filter system of claim 1, wherein the mud filter is comprised of a porous structure.
3. The filter system of claim 2, wherein the porous structure comprises a solid material having a plurality of openings disposed therein.
4. The filter system of claim 3, wherein solid material is a metal.
5. The filter system of claim 1, wherein the overhead rotary drilling system comprises a washpipe assembly and wherein the mud filter is disposed within the wash pipe assembly.
6. The filter system of claim 1, wherein the overhead rotary drilling system comprises a washpipe assembly, having a gooseneck extending therefrom for receiving an S-pipe, and wherein the mud filter is disposed within the S-pipe.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mud filter comprises an annular mounting ring and a stem extending therefrom, wherein an upper portion of the stem is nonporous and a lower portion of the stem is porous.
8. The filter system of claim 7, wherein the nonporous upper portion of the stem of the mounting filter comprises at least one quarter of the length of the stem.
9. The filter system of claim 7, wherein the nonporous upper portion of the stem of the mounting filter comprises at least one half of the length of the stem.
10. A filter system for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system comprising:
- a top drive drilling system comprising a washpipe assembly, a gooseneck extending from the washpipe assembly and an S-pipe connected to the gooseneck; and
- a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud, wherein the mud filter is disposed within a drilling mud fluid passageway that extends within the top drive-to alleviate an antecedent basis error system.
11. The filter system of claim 10, wherein the mud filter is comprised of a porous structure.
12. The filter system of claim 11, wherein the porous structure comprises a solid material having a plurality of openings disposed therein.
13. The filter system of claim 12, wherein solid material is a metal.
14. The filter system of claim 10, wherein the mud filter is disposed within the washpipe assembly.
15. The filter system of claim 10, wherein the mud filter is disposed within the S-pipe,
16. The filter system of claim 10, wherein the mud filter comprises an annular mounting ring and a stem extending therefrom, wherein an upper portion of the stem is nonporous and a lower portion of the stem is porous.
17. A method for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system comprising:
- providing a drill string;
- providing an overhead drilling system that rotatably drives the drill string, the overhead drilling system comprising a drilling mud fluid passageway;
- providing a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud; and
- positioning the mud filter within the drilling mud fluid passageway of the overhead drilling system.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mud filter is a porous structure.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the porous structure comprises a solid material having a plurality of openings in the solid material.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the solid material comprises a metal material.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein the overhead drilling system comprises a washpipe assembly and wherein the mud filter is disposed within the washpipe assembly.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein the overhead drilling system comprises a washpipe assembly, having a gooseneck extending therefrom for receiving an S-pipe, and wherein the mud filter is disposed within the S- pipe.
23. The method of claim 17, wherein the mud filter comprises an annular mounting ring and a stem extending therefrom, wherein an upper portion of the stem is nonporous and a lower portion of the stem is porous.
24. The method of claim 17, wherein the nonporous upper portion of the stem of the mounting filter comprises at least one half quarter of the length of the stem.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the nonporous upper portion of the stem of the mounting filter comprises at least one half of the length of the stem.
26. A method for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system comprising:
- providing a drill;
- Providing a top drive drilling system that ratably drives the drill string, wherein the top drive comprises a washpipe assembly, a gooseneck extending from the washpipe assembly and an S-pipe connected to the gooseneck;
- providing a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud; and
- positioning the mud filter in a drilling mud fluid passageway within the top drive.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mud filter is a porous structure.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the porous structure comprises a solid material having a plurality of openings therein.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the solid material comprises a metal material.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein the overhead drilling system comprises a washpipe assembly and has been removed to alleviate an antecendent basis and redundancy error within the washpipe assembly.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein the overhead mud filter is disposed within the S-pipe.
32. The method of claim 26, wherein the mud filter comprises an annular mounting ring and a stem extending therefrom, wherein an upper portion of the stem is nonporous and a lower portion of the stem is porous.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 3, 2003
Date of Patent: Dec 20, 2005
Patent Publication Number: 20040079551
Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc. (Houston, TX)
Inventor: Neil Herst (Houston, TX)
Primary Examiner: Frank S. Tsay
Assistant Examiner: Shane Bomar
Attorney: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP
Application Number: 10/453,370